India’s educational system is modelled on the mass education system that developed in the 19th century in Europe and later spread around the world. The goal of the system is to condition children as ‘good’ citizens and productive workers. This suited the industrial age that needed the constant supply of a compliant workforce with a narrow set of capabilities. Our educational institutes resemble factories with bells, uniforms and batch-processing of learners, designed to get learners to conform. But, from an economic point of view, the environment today is very different. It is a complex, volatile and globally interconnected world.

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. India continues to be a developing country essentially due to its faulty education system.
2. Today’s learners need to acquire new-age skill-sets.
3. A good number of Indians go to some developed countries for education because the educational systems there are a perfect reflection of the societies in which they function.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

The correct option is 2 only.

Let us analyze the validity of each assumption step-by-step based on the provided passage:

1. Analysis of Assumption 1: "India continues to be a developing country essentially due to its faulty education system."
The passage criticizes India's education system for being modeled on an outdated 19th-century industrial-age factory system that emphasizes conformity. However, the text does not discuss India's economic status as a "developing country," nor does it establish a causal link suggesting that the education system is the main reason why India continues to be developing. Therefore, this assumption is invalid as it goes far beyond the scope of the passage.

2. Analysis of Assumption 2: "Today’s learners need to acquire new-age skill-sets."
The passage states that the current educational model, designed to supply a compliant workforce with a "narrow set of capabilities," suited the industrial age. However, it contrasts this with today's environment, describing it as a "complex, volatile and globally interconnected world" that is "very different." Since the old system teaches a narrow, outdated set of capabilities, it is logically implied that today's learners need to acquire new-age skill-sets to navigate and succeed in this modern, complex, and volatile environment. Therefore, this assumption is valid.

3. Analysis of Assumption 3: "A good number of Indians go to some developed countries for education because the educational systems there are a perfect reflection of the societies in which they function."
The passage does not mention or hint at Indians traveling abroad for education, nor does it discuss whether educational systems in developed nations perfectly reflect their societies. Thus, this assumption is completely unsupported by the passage and is invalid.

Since only the second assumption is valid, the correct choice is indeed 2 only.